Photos

Rich Barrieres

NEWTON — The New Sussex Symphony continues its tradition of performing symphonic music that reaches out to music lovers of all ages with its third concert for the 2017-2018 season on Saturday, May 19, 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Newton at 111 Ryerson Avenue in Newton.

Guy Parker, violinist, has always kept music as his most serious avocation. He was a student of the late eminent Russian violinist, Fima Fidelman (himself a disciple of the venerable Leopold Auer) and of the late violinist Joseph Becker of the New York Philharmonic. Parker has performed as recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist in the U.S. and abroad. A co-founder of the Long Island Huntington Chamber Players, Parker instructs and coaches the Russian natural method of violin playing and is currently concertmaster of the New Sussex Symphony.

Melinda McCoy-Miller received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied flute with Thomas Nyfenger and Harold Bennett. With majors in performance on flute and music education, she taught instrumental music in the Port Washington, NY school district for four years prior to relocating to Sussex County thirty years ago. In addition to running her own business, The Flute Studio, Melinda currently performs with and is Orchestra Manager/Treasurer of the New Sussex Symphony, on the board of the Music Foundation of Sussex County, Treasurer of the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council, Treasurer of the New Jersey Flute Society, and Secretary of the North Jersey Area Band. Melinda performs professionally in the tri-state area.

Helen "Teddy" Love is a professional oboist and instrumental music teacher. She is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music and received her Masters from UMass, Amherst where she was the oboe Teaching Assistant. Teddy performs regularly with the New Sussex Symphony and freelances in northern NJ. Teddy teaches Instrumental Music in the Rockaway Borough Public Schools. She plays and sings with the Grace Church Choir, Madison and also enjoys singing in the Harmonium Choral Society. Teddy lives in Mount Tabor, NJ with her husband, Larry, daughter, Kimberly, and son, Charlie.

Richard J. Dispenziere has been a music educator for 30 years and has been the band director at Frankford Township School for the past 27 years. Mr. Dispenziere holds a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Performance as well as a Master’s degree in Music Education from William Paterson University. As a performer, Mr. Dispenziere is the principal trumpet of the New Sussex Symphony and a member of the Imperial Brass Quintet. He regularly performs with the New Jersey Conservatory Orchestra, Garden State Opera Orchestra, and various other ensembles in the greater New York/New Jersey area. Mr. Dispenziere makes his home in Wantage, NJ with his wife, Karen, and two daughters, Katelyn and Ashley.

In addition to the Bach concerto, the orchestra will also perform Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije Suite, Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from “Rodeo” and Vaughan Williams’ Welsh Hymn Tune “Rhosymedre.” The "Rhosymedre" offering, will be dedicated to the memory of Karen Pinoci, the orchestra's long-standing Music Director, who passed away last month. The New Sussex Symphony's first concert in its 2018-19 season will be a memorial concert in her honor. With heavy hearts, the orchestra is in the process of auditioning for her successor.

This concert will be guest conducted by Rich Barrieres, conductor, trumpeter and the current Director of Bands at Jefferson Township High School in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. In his position in Jefferson, Mr. Barrieres teaches Symphonic Band, two levels of Music Theory, and directs many co-curricular ensembles including Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and chamber ensembles. In addition to his work in Jefferson, Mr. Barrieres is an adjunct professor at County College of Morris where he co-directs the Wind Ensemble, as well as teaching trumpet and French horn. Mr. Barrieres has been active as a guest conductor this year, appearing with the Sussex County Youth Orchestra, North Jersey Area Band, and the Hanover Wind Symphony. Complementing his work as a director and teacher Mr. Barrieres is also active as a freelance trumpeter, playing for church services and musicals. Mr. B has performed with the New Sussex Symphony as a member and soloist. He also is a member of the Hanover Wind Symphony in the Euphonium section. Mr. Barrieres' education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Master of Arts in Trumpet from New Jersey City University, and 46 doctoral credits toward a DMA in Music Education at Boston University.

Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. Children five years old and under are admitted free of charge. Although tickets may be purchased at the door, tickets are also available at the Bill Wright School of Music (50 Woodport Road in Sparta) and the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council (133 Spring Street in Newton).

Additional funding for the concert has been made available by the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Block Grant Program, as administered by the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council.

To learn more about how members of the community can support the New Sussex Symphony and their youth Legacy Fund Scholarship, or to learn more about performances and community involvement, contact Melinda McCoy-Miller at 973-579-6465 or e-mail at nssnj@ptd.net, or visit www.newsussexsymphonynj.org.